Three Influential People in My Life

            What can I say about my grandma Shirley? As far as a description goes, just scroll down to the bottom of this blog to see a current picture of her and me.  When it comes to personality, she’s out of this world.  What intrigues me the most about her is her patience and unconditional love for her family.  No matter what someone does or says, or whatever circumstance we find ourselves in, she is right there encouraging us forward without passing judgment or making us feel worse than we already do.  Now don’t get me wrong, she may not pass judgment on us in our folly, but she WILL tell us her opinion and offer suggestions for improvement along the way. (Don’t tell her, but nine times out of ten; she is right).  I am learning now that I need to cherish every moment that we are together. She just turned 81 this past August and since then her health has begun to falter.  I find it ironic that when I started my life in this world she would watch over me, making sure I ate, slept and had clean clothes and as she is nearing the end of her life the roles have changed. I count it a privilege to be there for her in any way I can.

Another important person in my life is my best friend Jesus.  He is all but 5 foot 7 inches average type of guy. He may not be all that tall, but what he may lack in height, he more than makes up for it with HEART.  It is not too often that someone can say about someone else, “Man he/she has heart”.  By definition, according to me (and urban dictionary) to have heart is to be courageous or brave. Another translation calls it giving it your all.  He definitely fits into all of the above.  Not only can he kick butt should the need arise, he also falls into the other side of having heart.  He is the most self-less individual that I have ever met. I have watched him sacrifice his own wants and needs for the sake of other family members or friends.  I have seen him repeatedly get taken advantage of by the same people because his kindness is mistaken for weakness.  He is important to me because I feel that everyone needs someone in their life that will tell them the truth no matter what, even if it offends or feelings get hurt.  He definitely fulfills that role well!

            I think the final person that plays a key role in my life would be my uncle Paul.  He is my mom’s brother. For being in his late 50s he looks great. Not a grey hair on his head, no wrinkles, and still a low pro freak. It must be the American Indian blood.  He has a blunt, but dry sense of humor.  Paul is always offering his opinions and suggestions to me.  And when I take his advice, I usually do alright for myself.  He is generous as well. One day he just came over and gave me a computer and he didn’t stop there he then followed through with a laptop when I began school.  He is important to me because he is probably the only positive male role model I have or ever had.